New Jersey Students Among Nation’s Best in Reading, Math

New Jersey Students Among
Nation’s Best in Reading, Math

New Jersey fourth and eighth graders ranked among the best in the nation in both reading and math on the latest administration of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the “Nation’s Report Card.”

The Garden State scored second highest among the states in fourth grade reading, and it tied for second highest in fourth-grade math. In the eighth grade, New Jersey students tied for fourth highest in reading and sixth in math.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is administered biennially at randomly selected schools in all states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Department of Defense schools.

The NAEP is the only standardized test that provides valid state-to-state score comparisons. In the fourth-grade reading and math scores, only Massachusetts scored higher than New Jersey.

“Over the years, New Jersey consistently has placed among the top states in the nation in both fourth- and eighth-grade reading and math results,” said Kevin E. Ciak, NJSBA president. “All of those involved in providing a quality education to the schoolchildren of our state—from parents and teachers, to school administrators and boards of education—have much to be proud of.

“While we are pleased with our accomplishments, we must also continue to strive for improvement.”